Editorial: Judge puts bullet in case

Belleville Times

The Cedar Grove Municipal Court dismissed the harassment case against Belleville resident Thomas McCrohan last week. While, over the course, the charges were downgraded, it's amazing the case went as far as it did.

Anonymous posters on the Internet are common these days. While, once in a blue moon, they offer true insight or revelations while protecting the author, most of these forums offer no more than rants, at the least mean-spirited, but sometimes libelous, racist and threatening. Many of these "citizen" forums are sponsored by reputable publications, respected at least in their print and other online pages. Like the latter, there needs to be more creditability on the forums, i.e. the use of real names. The "deep throats" can still talk to reporters if they want to keep unnamed while possibly still affecting change that is good for the community.

Of course, deep in the system the host site, or police, can track down who the anonymous posters really are, as McCrohan found out. But he contended in court his suggestion of a "shot" was an inoculation to cure a fear of fellow library board trustee Richard Yanuzzi, not as in something being projected from a gun. Yanuzzi testified he was the one who feared for his life. Maybe he did, and an investigation was necessary. But didn't the investigation reveal something less sinister?

The lessons, of course, is try to engage in civil dialogue, and for goodness sake, watch what you post on the Internet.

Editorial: Judge puts bullet in case

Belleville Times

The Cedar Grove Municipal Court dismissed the harassment case against Belleville resident Thomas McCrohan last week. While, over the course, the charges were downgraded, it's amazing the case went as far as it did.

Anonymous posters on the Internet are common these days. While, once in a blue moon, they offer true insight or revelations while protecting the author, most of these forums offer no more than rants, at the least mean-spirited, but sometimes libelous, racist and threatening. Many of these "citizen" forums are sponsored by reputable publications, respected at least in their print and other online pages. Like the latter, there needs to be more creditability on the forums, i.e. the use of real names. The "deep throats" can still talk to reporters if they want to keep unnamed while possibly still affecting change that is good for the community.

Of course, deep in the system the host site, or police, can track down who the anonymous posters really are, as McCrohan found out. But he contended in court his suggestion of a "shot" was an inoculation to cure a fear of fellow library board trustee Richard Yanuzzi, not as in something being projected from a gun. Yanuzzi testified he was the one who feared for his life. Maybe he did, and an investigation was necessary. But didn't the investigation reveal something less sinister?

The lessons, of course, is try to engage in civil dialogue, and for goodness sake, watch what you post on the Internet.